Type: Theathre Performance
Country: N. Macedonia
City: Skopje, Resen
Organization: UNESCO, Major Programme IV – Culture / Academia Balkanica Europeana
Eligibility: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, N. Macedonia
Entry Fee: No
 
Project description:
Foundation of Balkans arts youth mobility network, through the initial project - a production of a theatre play/performance, which will be premiered at the International Theatre Festival Actor of Europe 2023.
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The preparation of the performance will be carried through a series working sessions for young artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and N. Macedonia (one actor and one artist: director, set designer, costume designer, dramatist, musician, from each country).

The participants will be guided and supervised by the proven professionals from the field of arts and culture, lecturers/trainers for workshops.

The whole project will be carried out under the mentorship of the prominent theatre authors Jordan Plevnes and Dejan Projkovski.

Project’s target group are young artists from the WB Region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and N. Macedonia.

Participants in this project are divided into these categories:
 1. Five (5) young professional actors (22-30), participants in the working sessions for production of a theatre performance, 1 from each of WB’s countries;

 2. Five (5) young professional authors (22-30) (dramatist, director, musician, costume designer, set designer), participants in the working sessions, one from each of the countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and N. Macedonia);

The participants will gain unique opportunity for improvement of their professional and intercultural competencies, as well as enhancing their network and opening possibilities for participation in creative projects in future.
 
After the initial preparation of the project and selection of the participants and lecturers/trainers,  a total of four  seven days working sessions for the purpose of creation and preparation of the theatre play will be organized, three in Skopje, in the period from March to June 2023, and the forth in July (6th-10th) 2023, in Resen, at the International Theatre Festival “Actor of Europe”.
 
An event - Forum will be organized, based on the title/subject “Balkans arts youth mobility network”, (July 2023, at the ITF Actor of Europe) which will feature these young artists, their thoughts and opinions, during their artistic endeavor in this project.  The other participants on the Forum will be guests and participants from the ITF Actor of Europe. In the same time, this will mark the project as a base for the potential creation of “Balkan Mobility Arts Centre”.

The theatre performance will be premiered at The International Theatre Festival – Actor of Europe 2023 in Prespa region, N. Macedonia. (11 July 2023).

Participants will attend the whole festival in Prespa (6-11 July 2023). The final results will be presented through digital media in all WB countries. As a part of sustainability of the project, we and our partners will put maximum efforts results to be presented at least in one city from each country of the project: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Cultural visit trip will be organized for the participants from Resen to Ohrid (UNESCO city).  
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For all categories of the target groups, gender equality will be taken under consideration, and candidates with fewer opportunities will have an advantage in the selection.

The organizer covers all the costs for travel and accommodation of the participants.

The participants must be able to adjust their schedule to be able to travel and attend the sessions according to the dynamics of the project.  

How to apply:
Please apply on the following email address: abeuropeana@gmail.com
using  the reference <BAYMN APPLICATION > in the email title, with:

• A brief bio about the artist / author
• Photograph;
• Artwork (costumes, set design, photos/links from performances) (images in jpeg format, up to 5MB each image), and/or text;
• Details of the artwork (title, size, medium etc.)
• Website and social media (if applicable);
• Statement confirming you are the author of the original artwork and it does not infringe the rights of any third party (if applicable).

 
Expiration date:  Friday, February 20, 2023
Website: http://ab-europeana.org/
 

A characteristic of humanity is to harbour dreams and to share them with others to form societies. Our own European dream was that we had reached such a high level of civilisation that we could live at peace with each other and with the rest of the world. That at least is what we believed for the past 70 years or so. Today, we see that this dream was not achieved. So the challenge we face is how to restore trust between the peoples of the world. It seems to me that the great nations, or rather: the nations which consider themselves as the greatest, have a problem with the very idea of their own greatness and are not ideally placed to make a useful contribution to this task of reconstruction. Also, I think the dialogue should take place well outside the political sphere. That is why the Academia Balkanica has a very special international role to play, especially at the present time of strife and tension. Only a shared  culture can save us.

Le propre de l'humanité est d'être habitée par des rêves, puis de les partager avec les autres pour former des sociétés. Notre rêve européen était de parvenir à un si haut degré de civilisation que nos nations puissent vivre en paix les unes avec les autres ainsi qu'avec le reste du monde. Du moins, c'est ce que nous avons espéré depuis environ 70 ans. Aujourd'hui, nous voyons bien que ce n'est pas gagné. Le problème qui se pose à nous est le suivant : comment reconstruire la confiance entre les peuples ? Il me semble que les grandes nations, disons plutôt celles qui se croient grandes, ont des problèmes avec leur propre grandeur. Elles sont donc mal placées pour traiter cette question. Il vaudrait mieux commencer par rassembler des nations moins persuadées de leur prépondérance dans l'Histoire pour parvenir à un dialogue utile. Mieux vaut aussi mener ce débat en-dehors de la sphère politique. Voilà
pourquoi l'Académie Européenne des Balkans a un rôle international tout à fait important à jouer. Seule une culture commune peut nous sauver.

​Jean-Patrick Connerade
​

Academia Balkanica Europeana, which includes distinguished artists and scientific research experts from ten countries in the Balkans, and which was established in Bucharest in October 2017, held its General Election Assembly on December 9, in Skopje.
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The General Assembly was opened by the Honorary President of ABE and President of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Jean-Patrick Connerade from The Imperial College in London, who called on the European Union to find a modality for the immediate inclusion of the countries of the Western Balkans as its equal members, since the Balkans are an integral part of European civilization.
​
In the presence of the President of the "Jean Monet Foundation" from Paris, Henri Malosse, and the President of ABE Jordan Plevnes, an agreement was reached to organize a conference at the highest level, under the title "United Balkans in a United Europe", which will be attended by about 40 exceptional personalities from the scientific and intellectual life of Europe and the Balkans, and with the presence of the highest representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament.

The conference will be held in two parts, the first in Macedonia in May 2023, and the second in October in France, at the "House of Jean Monet - Father of Europe", which is located in the small town of  Houjarray near Paris.

An additional resolution will be drafted in France and sent to the most important institutions in Europe and the United States.

At the event in Skopje, three in memoriam honors were given to the deceased academics, Isidora Zhabeljan, a composer from Serbia, Vangelis, an international name of Greek music, and Ion Caramitru, the first President of ABE, a theater legend from Romania.

It was in his honor that ABE established a theater award that will bear his name and that will be awarded once a year, to personalities from the theatrical life of Southeast Europe.

On this occasion, the SEE Actor 2022 award from the Festival of Southeast Europe in Paris, Berlin and Washington were awarded to Bajrush Myaku, as well as the Europa Prima 2022 award from the same festival to the famous fashion designer and founder of the International Institute of Fashion in Skopje, Mr. Izet Curi.

Academia Balkanica Europeana nominated Aco Ristov, Mayor of Radovish, for the award  SEE Personality 2023, which is traditionally awarded to prominent figures from the social and economic life of the region, from June 1 to 6, 2023 at the Festival of Southeast Europe in Paris, Berlin and Washington.

The General Secretary of ABE, Aleksandar Prokopiev announced the names of the newly elected academicians of ABE in the field of art and scientific research.

The following members have been elected in the field of science:
1. Prof. dr. Miodrag Stojković (Serbia)
2. Prof. Majlinda Lako, PhD (Albania)
3. prof. dr. Tarik Kupusović (BIH)
4. prof. dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović  (BIH) 
5. Professor Jasna Koteska (MKD)
6. Dr. Radosvet Gornev (BUL) 
7. Assoc. Krasen Stanchev (BUL) 
8. Miglena Dikova-Milanova (BUL)
9. Ljubomir Kekenovski (MKD)
 
In the field of art and journalism, the following were selected:
1. Ylljet Aliçka (Albania)
2. Prof. Dr. Haqif Mulliqi (Kosovo)
3. Milazim Krasniqi  (Kosovo)
4. Vladimir Levchev (BUL)
5. Ivaylo Dichev (BUL)
6. Zharko Basheski (MKD)
7. Dimitar Malidanov (MKD)
8. Rade Siljan (MKD)
9. Lidija Dimkovska (MKD)
10. Ermis Lafazanovski (MKD)
 
Philip Sashko, Balkanologist, Professor Emeritus at the University of Milwaukee, USA and Henri Malosse, President of the "Jean Monet Foundation" from Paris, were elected as honorary members of the academy.

The promotion of the new academics will be carried out during the "United Balkans in United Europe" conference in May 2023 in Skopje.

Academia Balkanica Europeana this year is continuing with its the annual international event, from 10 to 12 of May 2022: "THE BALKANS ARE THE HEART OF EUROPE - European integration in the Balkans between reality and illusion", supported by the Ministry of Culture of Republic of N. Macedonia, and our partners, Cinemateque of N. Macedonia and International University EUROPA PRIMA - Skopje.
​The event will include creative contributions in photography, theater, cinema and music from young authors from Balkan countries, as well as International online conference: Academia Balkanica Europaena - European integration in the Balkans between reality and illusion.

Following the proposition of the President of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Jean-Patrick Connerade, a professor at Imperial College London, the internationally renowned Macedonian writer Jordan Plevnes was unanimously elected President of the Academia Balkanica Europeana, by all  members from Balkan countries.

This election followed the recent departure in eternity of the academy's first president, Ion Caramitru, elected in Bucharest on October 29, 2017, a legendary Balkanophile, theater actor, director and filmmaker, Romania's first Minister of Culture since the fall of Ceaușescu.

​Following the election of the new President Jordan Plevnes, an open call is published for election of new members of the Academy in the field of Natural and Social Sciences (from April 5 to May 30, 2022). The research institute which will be set up by the newly elected academicians will work in four priority areas related to the Open Balkans project - economics, ecology, medicine and renewable energy sources.

The plenary session of the Academia Balkanica Europeana, which relocated its headquarters from Bucharest, and now is officially registered in Skopje, is expected to be held at the end of June and the beginning of July 2022 in Macedonia.


PROPOSITION FOR NEW PRESIDENT OF ABE  
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"Dear Friends, Colleagues and Distinguished Members of the Academia Balkanica Europeana,

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2022, with much success in your many and diverse activities which bring credit to all of us and to the Academy itself.

In addition to sending you my greetings for the New year, I am writing for an important reason concerning the future of the Academia Balkanica Europeana. As you already know, there is now a vacancy since our much loved former President Yon Caramitru has sadly left this world. We are now faced with the challenge of replacing him. Of course, the new President will need to be chosen collectively by the active members, but maybe, in my role as Honorary President and also as the acting President of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (EASAL) which has been involved since the outset in establishing the Academia Balkanica, you will allow me to make a proposal for the successor to Yon Caramitru. It seems to me that we have already to hand the ideal person to take on this responsibility.

I would like to remind you all how much Jordan Plevnes has done, not only in his capacity as Rector of the University of Audiovisual Arts in Skopje and former Ambassador of Macedonia to promote learning, culture and creativity in all the countries of the Balkans, but also to establish the Academia Balkanica itself as a new and flourishing institution which (we all hope) will best represent future peaceful links between our nations. His work has been of exceptional importance and I think we should all recognize that our Academy itself would not have come into being without his vision and indefatigable campaigning.

The Academia Balkanica is not merely a scholarly initiative. After so many political attempts to create a peaceful and stable web to connect Balkan nations to each other, there is a general realisation that the true unifying force is cultural. It is through Humanism, the Arts and eventually the Sciences that the region will reveal its true potential. Only when these energies are all harnessed together will we discover just how much the Balkans can contribute to the development of the European spirit. This has always been the dream of our friend Jordan Plevnes, and I see no other person who has worked so hard to achieve this noble aim.

I would also point to the time and energy he devotes to the Ohrid Academy of Humanism, which plays a central role and is recognised worldwide for its contribution to broadening horizons of Art and Culture in central Europe.

Jordan Plevenes is widely respected for his own literary work as a playwright, as a writer and as a poet. Recently, his many contributions to the Audiovisual arts at a European level have been recognised by the award of a Grand Prize by the Académie Française in Paris. He is clearly a leading figure on the international scene, exceptionally well placed to represent the most positive aspects of Culture in the Balkans.

I would therefore like to suggest that you all consider Jordan Plevnes as a very suitable candidate for the Presidency of the Academia Balkanica Europeana. Not only does his energy and enthusiasm mark him out as an ideal future President, but his diplomatic and cultural expertise would ensure that the Academy is guided by a reliable pair of hands. In short, I have no hesitation in recommending him to you all most highly for this position. "
   
Jean-Patrick Connerade (7  January 2022)

​Ion Caramitru, (79) the Balkan theater legend, Romania's first Minister of culture after the fall of Ceaușescu, died in Bucharest on September 5, after a short illness. His rich theatrical and film biography, as an actor and director, will remain in the records of the europeanization of the Balkans. He initiated the establishment of the theater network NETA, in direct cooperation with the former Minister of culture of Macedonia, Blagoj Stefanovski, and the former Minister of culture of Montenegro, Branislav Micunovic - Zaga.
After the bloody wars in the former Yugoslavia, 67 professional theaters joined NETA, not only from Yugoslavia, but also from all Balkan countries, realizing the dream that "the Balkans are the heart of Europe".
His connection with Macedonia left inerasable mark, with his directorial creations at the National Theater in Bitola, and a number of performances at the Ohrid Summer. He presided the symposium "Hamlet in the History of Europe and the Balkans", gatherring in Skopje all the great actors from the Balkans who played Hamlet. Instantly after that event, he was proclaimed Doctor Honoris Causa of the International University of Europa Prima. In addition, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award "Actor of Europe" at the International Theater Festival in Prespa 2016, while at the Festivals of the Southeast in Paris and Berlin, the same year he was named "SEE Actor".
His Balkanophilia and commitment to European unity was crowned on October 29, 2017, at the National Theater of Romania in Bucharest, where he was director for many years, with the foundation of the ACADEMY BALKANICA EUROPEANA along with thirty distinguished artists from ten Balkan countries, working on a number of projects, affirming the Balkan culture in the European centers, especially through the website and magazine "The Bridges".

Academia Balkanica Europeana is pleased to announce the international event, from 25 to 27 of May 2021: "THE BALKANS ARE THE HEART OF EUROPE - Academy Balkanica Europeana, promoter of Balkan's creative values", supported by the Ministry of Culture of Republic of N. Macedonia, and our partners, Cinemateque of N. Macedonia and International University EUROPA PRIMA - Skopje.
​The event will include creative contributions in photography, theater, cinema and music from young authors from Balkan countries, as well as International online conference: "THE BALKANS ARE THE HEART OF EUROPE - The intertwining of cultural identities as a stimulus for creative expression".